Healing with Horses

We have so much to learn. Animals know this and they love us anyway. - AnimalNsight

May 5, 2014 - Ohio State University

•  In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that spending time with horses eases symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia. *Science Daily

The small pilot study, which appears in the journal Anthrozoös, suggests that equine therapy -- a treatment used today for children and teens who have emotional and developmental disorders -- could work for adults too.

A collaboration between The Ohio State University, an equine therapy center and an adult daycare center found that people with Alzheimer's were able to safely groom, feed and walk horses under supervision -- and the experience buoyed their mood and made them less likely to resist care or become upset later in the day.

Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, associate professor of social work at Ohio State, said that equine therapy could supplement more common forms of animal therapy involving dogs or cats and provide a unique way to ease the symptoms of dementia without drugs.

“We wanted to test whether people with dementia could have positive interactions with horses, and we found that they can—absolutely,” Dabelko-Schoeny said. “The experience immediately lifted their mood, and we saw a connection to fewer incidents of negative behavior.”

References -
http://news.osu.edu/news/2014/05/05/caring-for-horses-eases-symptoms-of-dementia/
http://www.fieldofdreamsequine.com/


Growing up with horses, I have always felt a strong connection and appreciated the time I have shared with my horse companions. When I started Wendy's Coffeehouse on KCMO Talk Radio, we searched for a local organization we could promote that provided equine assisted therapy.

Everyone likes apples. - New Horizon Ranch

After checking with some of the area horse people we found a program that is within driving distance of Kansas City and getting some excellent word of mouth. 

New Horizon Ranch in Rantoul, Kansas has been up and going since 2007. A friend and I had a chance to visit this week as they were setting up for their fundraising event (9/30/16).

Don't have time to post a lot here but wanted to add this as an example of programs that are seeing positive results in the communities they serve. I'll update later.  - wendy

About New Horizon Ranch.

Hero Rats on patrol (Landmine Sniffing)

In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too), those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. - Charles Darwin

A reminder about an extraordinary program. Hero RATS are extremely successful at the task of sniffing out landmines. In addition to that, they are also being trained to detect Tuberculosis. 25 Rats are currently trained in TB detection.

Learn more in this TED presentation by Bart Weetjens.

 

From Oddity Central, Bomb Sniffing requires aptitude.

[According to Tim Edwards, APOPO’s head of training and behavioral research, it is important that the rats be trusted. But in the rare event that a rat proves difficult to train, it is removed from the training program, but kept on as a playmate for the rest of the rats. “We do have a range of what people might call personalities in the rats,” Edwards explained.

“Usually, any extreme behaviour – either too quick or too slow, or too social or not social enough – can make them a little bit too difficult to train. We see quite a bit of variance, but ideally we have a nice balance between a rat that’s easy to handle but is also active and aggressive enough to go out there and find the mines.”]

Hero Rats also enjoy rewards for their service. "APOPO takes good care of its hero rats. There have been zero casualties so far – no rats have died or been injured in the line of duty. Sunscreen is applied to their ears to prevent skin cancer. And once a rat is too old to work, it is retired and permitted to live out the rest of its natural life."

More background on the HeroRATS -



This is an amazing program and the RATS are providing extraordinary services. In return, it is hoped that they are given support and care equal to the tremendous benefit they are providing humans.

Due to lack of awareness, contact and/or and education, many animals are unfairly scorned, maligned, underrated and under appreciated. Programs like this demonstrate how much more we have yet to learn from the fellow beings on our planet.

Worthy, these RATS are, of the title: Hero.

APOPO - Facebook 
Home APOPO.org
Adopt a HeroRAT

And to each and every Rat who has ever been and will ever be part of this program, you have our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you. 

Pondering ... deep thoughts with Kaleo

 “… I keep looking for one more teacher, only to find that fish learn from the water and birds learn from the sky.” - Mark Nepo

Ever entertaining, here's the question of the day from Kaleo, the Hawaiian Mynah -



And the answer, "Not yet." But I am inspired.

Find Kaleo on his YouTube channel: Link